I can see your logic, Doc.
But, the Branyan, Clement, Griffey stack is completely doable if Clement is catching. And Endy in left, hitting .700 is going to be better than Clement DHing, and hitting .500. (His career OPS as a DH is .494 at the moment).
Of course, it's FAR too early to write off Clement as DH material, as 100 trips to the plate is simply not a fair sample size. But, the only lefty DH that I see "blocking" Griffey, and making the move to LF really attractive would be Lahair.
So, the question then becomes is LaHair at DH and Griffey in left better than Griffey at DH and Endy in LF.
Ultimately, the question is NOT "Griffey or Endy in LF". The real question is Griffey and ???? at DH vs. Endy and ???? at DH. And frankly, if you pencil in Endy in left and Griffey at DH, then it starts getting REAL hard to come up with a DH partner for Griffey that doesn't potentially lose you as much ground offensively as Endy.
Still, it's early, and I'm hoping that Wlad has gotten the message that lollygagging in left will not be tolerated under the new management, and that we find out Wlad CAN actually play plus defense when motivated.
Q. Can Griffey play left this year? Is he capable?
A. Well, he played 144 games last year, all but 6 of them in the outfield.
At Mariner Central, there's a cool thread on Junior's knee. http://www.marinercentral.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1823 He's already icing it the first week. What's the mainframe crunch on this?
It wouldn't surprise me if Griff's legs don't hold up to everyday play any more. That's number one. If it all boils down that in his late 30's, he just can't do it, I won't be even 01% surprised.
Remember, Dr. D is on the wrong side of 37. That year was exactly the one at which my legs couldn't take it any more. I mean, you can try, sure. It's just that when you do, you tear stuff.
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But OTOH, remember that Griffey HAS played the outfield, every day. In 2007 and 2008, he played 144 and 143 games, and 95% of them were in the outfield. The White Sox put him in CENTER field. So let's slow down before we take it as proven that he cannot do it: when we last saw him (2008), he WAS doing it. Every day.
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Remember also that GRIFFEY believes he can play every day. Before we snort at this as wishful thinking on this part, let's stop and ask first: who knows Ken Griffey's body better than Ken Griffey? Wouldn't Griffey be a higher authority on his knee than you are? Or I am?
He seems quite sincere about his belief that his leg will hold up, and seeing as he did play 144 games last year, he's got evidence to back it up.
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Q. Yeah, but icing the first week?!
A. He's coming off surgery, and this is the first time he's playing baseball on it. It's going to bark. Especially at his age.
Major leaguers play in pain -- a LOT more than fans realize. There is a reason they have team doctors and team trainers and training rooms and needles and medicine all over the place. You think Griffey's knee is a problem, ask Johann Santana about his elbow.
Still and all, I'm not saying his knee is okay. I'm just saying that a little ice around the locker room, hey, it's way too early to panic. :- )
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Q. What's your sense of it?
A. My sense of it is that the Mariners, and Griffey, and White Sox, and Reds, think his knee's okay.
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Q. Wouldn't it be safer to Edgar him?
A. Sure, but do you realize you're giving up the Clement-Branyan-Griffey stack against righties? Because right now, Kenji Johjima is going to catch 110-120 games unless he hits his way out of the lineup. (I doubt he will. His K rate is still very low.)
Still and all, if the Mariners want to Edgar him, they have options in LF. Dr. D has nothing against a three-man hydra in LF. Endy Chavez, even with a 65 OPS+ in the corner, could be a weapon if used under the right circumstances (those being the days on which flyball, non-K starters are throwing, and it's not Fenway Park or Texas or something).
Put Endy in there for defense 50 games a year when Washburn's up, etc ... put Wlad in there for 300 AB's, and use Junior when you're stacking Clement-Junior-Branyan against a righty, and you could win that way.
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My argument has never been that a glove specialist can't help the ballclub. He can. My argument is that there is no way a 65 OPS+ hitter can equal a 7.0 RC/27 guy because of the differences in their gloves. That's all.
I want to see Griff, Branyan, and Clement -- and preferably Swisher -- in the lineup together. That's my thang.
'y feel me?,
Dr D
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image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Sport_injury_warning_sign.jpg
Comments
I'm amused by Doc's decision that he likes Swisher now. :)
In any event, I had been optimistic about Griffey holding it together for one more year before I heard about the whole icing the knee already situation...now I'm just...hopeful. I still think signing Griffey was not the right thing to do when Orlado Hudson got paid 3.5 mil for one year (!)...I would kill to have a gold glover at second with this team.
Well, I like Swisher compared to Chavez. .. compared to Bobby Abreu or Adam Dunn, neh.
Fair enough...of course...that was my position too, as least as it pertained to Dunn.